Sánchez announces €400 million in direct aid for the purchase of electric vehicles in 2026

MadridAmid accusations of legislative obstruction, Pedro Sánchez has announced a package of measures to promote electric vehicles. Echoing the sector's demands, the Spanish Prime Minister has announced a new line of direct aid worth €400 million for the purchase of electric vehicles by 2026. Unlike previous programs, the Spanish government will manage the funds directly—until now, this had been handled by the regional governments. According to Sánchez, the reason for this change is to respond to the "complaints" and "legitimate demands of the sector." "We want to guarantee greater speed and also consistency in the management of the aid, so that the payments reach families when they really need them," the Prime Minister said. The rollout of previous programs, such as Moves III, has caused headaches for many users due to the waiting period of around a year and a half between vehicle purchase and receiving the aid. Next year's program, called Auto+, won't be the only one aimed at promoting electrification. Sánchez also announced another fund (Moves Corredores) of 300 million euros to deploy charging infrastructure "in so-called shadow zones," meaning roads where it doesn't yet exist. "We will also reduce the paperwork for licenses," the Spanish president added. However, Sánchez emphasized the progress made so far in the public charging network, which already includes 40,000 points. Finally, Sánchez made a third announcement: an additional 580 million euros, also for 2026, for the PERTE (Special Plan for the Transport of Electric Vehicles) for electric and connected vehicles. The head of the government made these announcements, totaling €1.28 billion for next year, during the presentation of the broader Auto Plan 2030 (comprising 25 measures across five key areas) designed to boost the automotive industry over the next five years, in collaboration with industry representatives. The goal for 2035 is to increase the market share of electrified models in Spain from 12% in 2023 to 95%, and their sales share from 10% to 100%.